The sealed book opened. Or, A cleer explication of the prophecies of the Revelation. Together with the lessons that are to be observed from every chapter thereof, being cleerly explained. Intended chiefly for the discovery to all of that Roman antichrist, and that Rome her final destruction is surely at hand, by that blessed work of reformation happily begun in the several churches and kingdoms of Europe. / By William Guild D.D. and preacher of Gods word.

Ver. 20. And the winepresse was trodden without the City, and blood came out of the winepresse, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hun∣dred furlongs.

This winepresse also, which is called great, because then all the wicked shall be cast therein, is said to be trodden, quia Deus malos tum premet, (sayes Ribera) quemadmodum uvae praelo praemuntur, as we see, Isa. 63.3. without the City, that is, being fully then separate, as chaff from the wheat, or sheep from the goats, and debarred from that heavenly Jerusalem, for (as is said, c. 22.15.) Without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whooremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth or maketh a lie.

Lastly, it is said, that blood came out of the winepresse, even to the horse bridles for the space of a thousand and six hundreth furlongs, which will be about two hundred English or Scots miles, by this blood the wine being signified that comes out of the pressed berries, because it is red and like unto blood, and is so called usually in Scripture, as Gen. 49.11. When speaking of Judah, old Jacob sayes, he washed his garments in wine, and his cloaths in the blood of grapes, and again, Deut. 32.14. Moses speaking of Gods goodnesse to Israel he sayes, that he did drink the pure blood of the grape. Then we have to consider what this wine is that comes out of the winepresse, and why by such an hyperbolick speech it is said to come forth in so great abundance. 1. Then the tenth verse tells us that this wine is the wrath of God, and the cup of his indignation without any mixture of mercy, which all those shall drink of that worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in their forehead or hand. 2. The hyperbolick expression of the coming out of it so abundantly in height, as it were to

horse bridles, and in breadth or length one thousand and six hun∣dred furlongs, is to shew that it shall be such a deluge and great inundation of Gods wrath, that they should not only drink ther∣of, as v. 10. but also swim therein, as they did in their plea∣sures in this life, and as they shed the blood of the Saints of God abundantly.

These two Metaphors then of the harvest and vintage sig∣nifie one thing, and the vision is diversly thus set down and doubled (as Joseph said of Pharaohs dream) to shew the cer∣tainty thereof.